Unbeaten Argyle Rolls Past + Eliminates Pleasant Grove, 11-1

[By Brady Keane, Special to ETSN.fm]

ROCKWALL – While Pleasant Grove had Argyle’s number the last two times the Class 4A powers met in the postseason, the Eagles did what they needed to Thursday night in Rockwall to get the Hawks off their back.

No. 1 Argyle (33-0) scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead before breaking the game open with a four-run sixth to cruise past No. 6 Pleasant Grove, 11-1, in a Class 4A Region II semifinal matchup.

The Eagles advanced to the regional final to take on either Kilgore or Crandall while the Hawks finished the season 26-5.

“We’d like to be playing next week, yes, but it wasn’t in the cards tonight,” Pleasant Grove coach Riley Fincher said. “But these guys are going to be so successful in whatever they do in life because of the type of individuals they are. It’s a testament to our kids that they never quit and kept competing.”

The Hawks struggled with their command on the mound as five pitchers combined to hit three Argyle batters and walk nine more. The Eagles scored two runs in the fifth before even putting a ball in play as Hayden Clearman, Austin King and Alex Gonzales walked to load the bases before Preston King was hit by a pitch and Chad Ricker added an RBI walk.

Preston King finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Eagles while Gonzales went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Clearman added two hits and two RBIs in the win.

“It’s great,” Clearman said. “We had a great week of practice and did everything we needed to. We played small ball and the ball kept rolling. Every time we play Pleasant Grove we know it’s going to be a great game and that’s going to continue for however long we keep playing.”

Nick Voyles got the loss for Pleasant Grove after allowing three hits, three walks and three runs through two innings. Jackson Cobb went 2-for-2 with a walk at the plate while Ben Harmon drove in the Hawks’ lone run with a double in the fourth.

“We talk all the time about regardless of what happens, regardless of the score, every day the Lord blesses you with another day you wake up and get another chance to compete,” Fincher said. “I’m very proud of them and their effort.”